17 Ballymacanallen Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A semi-detached single-storey direct-entry vernacular dwelling with outbuildings; built c.1820 and located south of the Ballymacanallen Road, near Gilford. Rectangular on plan.

Pitched corrugated metal roof with raised masonry verge and roughcast rendered chimneystacks. Remnants of cast-iron gutters and brackets. Walling is roughcast render. Windows are mainly 1/2 timber sliding sash with projecting masonry sills.

The principal elevation faces north and is irregularly arranged, having timber-sheeted entrance door with sidelights to right of centre; two windows to left and one window to right; to far right is a timber-sheeted square opening.

The east gable has a window to right of centre.

The rear (south) elevation is partially concealed by hedgerow. To left are two timber-sheeted doors; to right is a 3/6 window.

The west gable is abutted by adjoining building (HB17/01/057A).

Setting:

Located along a country road north of Gilford town centre. To rear is an overgrown yard with a linear row of roughcast rendered and rubble stone outbuildings with tin roofs. Yard accessed from road via a wrought-iron gate to northeast. Modern two-storey dwelling to east.

Roof: Corrugated Metal
Walling: Render
Windows: Timber
RWG: None

Historical information

The present buildings began life as a single dwelling in the early nineteenth century, and was subsequently extended in a linear form over the years, as was common for vernacular buildings of this type. The cottages are situated in the rural hinterland of Gilford, an agricultural landscape that has retained its character and remains relatively unchanged.

A rectangular structure is shown on the first edition OS map of 1834 which occupies the footprint of the present day number 17 Ballymacanallen Road. By the second edition of 1858 the structure has been extended westwards to form what is now number 15 and by the third edition number 17 has been further extended eastwards, beyond the chimney that would once have marked the gable end.

Number 17 was constructed before 1834 but the building was beneath the valuation threshold necessary for inclusion in the Townland Valuation. James Muldrak was the occupier at the time of Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64), followed by Hugh Muldrak and the house is leased from the Representatives of William McCraith. The valuation of the buildings is £1.10s and the associated farm plot amounts to over 8 acres.

By 1880 the occupier is Joseph Heaney and he remains resident at the time of the 1901 census. The house has 3 windows to the front facade and 4 rooms. It is roofed with perishable material, very likely thatch. Joseph Heaney, farmer, lives with his wife and three adult children, his son working as a commercial clerk in the flax industry that was so significant locally. By 1911 Heaney’s wife had died and he was living with his son and his remaining unmarried daughter, his younger daughter having married and gone to live in the adjoining dwelling. Joseph Heaney died in 1924, leaving the farm to his son and his son-in-law David Robinson. (Will of Joseph Heaney) Maggie Heaney is listed as the occupier from 1930 and Mary J Robinson in 1931, who was also the occupier of the adjoining house. In the First General Revaluation the house, which was thatched, was initially revalued at £4.10s with £1.15s for agricultural outbuildings.

The house remained in the Robinson family, resident in 1942 was David J Robinson and in 1943 Samuel J Robinson, but in 1945 the house was redesignated as outbuildings rather than a domestic dwelling and remains unoccupied.

References:
Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/3/26/1 First Edition OS Map 1834
2. PRONI OS/6/3/26/2 Second Edition OS map 1858
3. PRONI OS/6/3/26/3 Third Edition OS Map 1901-2
4. PRONI OS/6/3/26/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1920-21
5. PRONI VAL/1/B/350 Townland Valuation (1828-40)
6. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/48A Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
7. PRONI VAL/12/B/16/25A-H Annual Revisions (1864-1930)
8. PRONI VAL/3/D/4/12/C/3 – First General Revaluation Valuer’s RV Binder (1933-57)
9. PRONI Will of Joseph Heaney died 4th August 1924

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

An attached single-storey direct-entry vernacular dwelling with outbuildings, in the early nineteenth century. Detailing is largely intact and its original proportions and much of its early character survive. The adjoining building (HB17/01/057A) and the outbuildings to rear add historic interest and group value. The pair demonstrate the development of the site and are a relatively rare surviving example of vernacular dwellings, once common in this area, and a good example of the type. However, permission has been granted for their replacement.